Kognito "At-Risk" Gate Keeper Training

Help A Stressed Student

Kognito Training Opportunities for
Faculty, Staff, Administrators, and Students

As many as one in five students suffer from a mental disorder that may threaten their well-being or academic performance. Suicide is the leading cause of student mortality among college students. Training everyone on campus to identify, approach, and refer students in psychological distress is an effective strategy for strengthening the safety net for all students.

In order to help address these concerns, the Counseling Division has adopted 6 fully interative, avatar based training simulations to help faculty, staff, administrators, and students build skills through role play. 3 trainings are specific for faculty, staff, & administrators and 3 are specifically designed for students. Users engage in conversations with emotionally responsive student avatars who exhibit signs of psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. In this process, the user practices and learns to use open-ended questions, reflective listening, and other motivational interviewing techniques to effectively:

Broach the topic of psychological distress

Discuss their concern with the student

Avoid common pitfalls such as attempting to diagnose the problem or giving unwarranted advice.